Discover Adventure Bay

Adventure Bay combines sheltered coves and clear water with a history shaped by whaling and South Pacific exploration. Different focuses for your stay include the coast, trails with historic traces, or the damp forest. The Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration adds historical collection pieces to these impressions. Roberts Point access and fuel availability on Bruny Island are also relevant to planning your trip.

Cove, beach and seasonal sightings

Adventure Bay offers sheltered coves and clear water. The bay is a sheltered place for swimming; the beaches are unpatrolled. During migration season, humpback whales or southern right whales may be sighted in the shallow, sheltered waters. Whale sightings therefore depend on migration season, while swimming and family camping are other features of the bay. Family camping is available in Adventure Bay.

Whaling history and museum

The sheltered anchorage was later used by Tobias Furneaux, James Cook and William Bligh. Whaling is also part of the area's history: whaling was carried out in Adventure Bay in the early 19th century. The privately run Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration is a history museum with a specialised collection on the exploration of the South Pacific. On display are maps, documents, paintings and other artefacts documenting visits to Adventure Bay by Captain William Bligh, Captain James Cook, Tobias Furneaux, Matthew Flinders and Admiral Joseph-Antoine Bruny D'Entrecasteaux. The collection offers a glimpse into the exploration of the South Pacific; by contrast, the Grass Point Walk focuses on visible structural remains in the landscape.

Coastal walk or forest stroll

The Grass Point Walk starts in Adventure Bay and is an easy trail with spectacular coastal views. It leads to the ruins of a former whaling station; visible structural remains are connected with the area's former whaling industry. This route brings coastal scenery and historical traces together. The Mavista Nature Walk offers a different focus: the well-maintained forest trail is 800 m long and accessible via Resolution Road and Lockleys Road in Adventure Bay. In the deep shade of a tall, damp forest, robins and scrubwrens can be found. The two trails differ in focus: the Grass Point Walk highlights the coast and whaling history, while the Mavista Nature Walk focuses on forest and birdlife.

Plan a boat trip and your arrival

Bruny Island Cruises is a three-hour boat trip departing from Adventure Bay. Its duration gives you a specific timeframe for planning; departure arrangements may change. So check the latest details in advance if you plan to take the trip.

From the ferry terminal at Roberts Point, it is a 30-minute drive over 37 km to Adventure Bay and the national park. Road conditions and travel times may vary; take this into account when planning your arrival. On Bruny Island, fuel is available only at the Adventure Bay General Store. As availability may change, check in advance whether fuel is available.

Discover more destinations: Ellendale, Plenty, Rosny Park, Queens Domain, Naracoopa, Bicheno, New Norfolk, Pipers River.

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